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Los Angeles Lakers: Why LA’s next free agency move is a power forward

By Jason Reed

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - MAY 15: Anthony Davis #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers in action in the game against the Indiana Pacers at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on May 15, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - MAY 15: Anthony Davis #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers in action in the game against the Indiana Pacers at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on May 15, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers /

1. That is the one place on the Los Angeles Lakers roster to target

The Los Angeles Lakers have built up quite a deep rotation of players with their free agency moves. The one area that the team could get a bit more depth, however, is the power forward position.

The Lakers have wings that can play the four in Carmelo Anthony and Trevor Ariza but neither of them are particularly big, coming in at six-seven and six-eight, respectively. Both will play some four and that is fine, but the Lakers could benefit from having another option at the position, particularly a true power forward.

I like both Ariza and Melo as small forwards better and if the Lakers can get someone who allows them to play more of the three then that would be best simply for the versatility of the team. It is not a huge need, but it is a need that still exists.

There is also the fact that Davis is likely going to play more center with Russell Westbrook in town. There is a path in which Davis plays far more center than we expected. If Dwight Howard or Marc Gasol get hurt, or Gasol regresses from last year’s regression, then Davis is going to have to log a lot more minutes at the five.

It would be nice in that case to have a true four to play rather than stretch Melo and Ariza out, even though they both can do it. With good backcourt depth and good wing depth, it makes sense to target the frontcourt at this stage of free agency.

So why not target a center instead of a power forward?

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